The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-26
And They Are Enthusiastic in Their Predic-
tions Relative to Its Future and the
Benefits 1t Will Bring.
Reports Are Submitted Showing that
Valuable Gas Land Can Be Secured.
In Every Way the Beginning Is Gratifying.
ard the Outlook Is Regarded as Encourag-
ing-What the Speakers Said.

three thousand people were there. representing
nearly every class of life from the monayed to the
iaboring class. Many ladies were present and
{, they were none the less attentive the old talk
about natural gas than their escorts None of
the speakers said anything particularly new.
but the auditors applauded as enthusiastically
if the Consumers Trust and its promised ad-
vantaees for the people were heard OF the first
time. Whenever the remarks referred to the
origin OF the trust and its ultimate object in
furnishing fuel at cost the audience was espe-
cially dsmonstrative Reference to two three
gentlemen, who are credi ted with being the
lginators of the plan. caused prolonged applause,
and in one instance IL proved to be the feature
Of the evening. While patiently waiting for the
speeches to begin, the Hotel Brotherhood band
gave gooo music until s o'clock. when VIM.
Wallace came forward and said he deemed it
great honor to preside at so large and enthu-
siastic meeting of the citizens of Indianapolis.
There is tide in the affairs of cities.
we'll as of men. which, taken at the food. leads
to fortune Such critical event has transpired
IN this city the last two weeks. Who is bold
enough to propesy the prosperity Indianapolis
will enjoy by this method consumers have
adopted to get cheap fuel7 Fuel is as necessary
as the air we breathe. and whatever tends to
cQe6pen
the grasp of combined capital There are no
means to do this surely as the trust, which is
peculiarly q peoples measure. 1t from
the people, and A. 700 of them have subscribed to
Its fund. Possessing this character the trust
demands the fullest confidence. and there is no
call for any to be alarmed by alleged legal
techncalites "Do you suppose" continued Mr.
Wallace "that any court is so iudicially blind
eoS hat wa of hon byy a nErac
we have entered into, especially when the pur-
poses are SO beneHcent1 If this trust cannot
stand in law then all must fail 1t is in the
hands of good and true men as there are in
Indianapolis and any violation of responsibility
which il imposes will call down on the faithless
the wrath of the community"
Ex-Governor Porter. being introduced,
spoke of the discovery OF gas near Indianapolis
months ago. when it seemed to saw, bore your
holes, sink your tubes, lay your pipes and that
will come TO your city which will increase it's
prosperity many fold. foreign corporation
saw this and proposed to bring the gas under
open ordinance. While the people of Indianapo-
lis not noisy they are blessed with good COM
mon sense. whats the use.' they said TO this
corporation. ito let you in open ordinance
when you will not cell us your gas at less than
the cost of coal wood?" It .hen the people
began to inquire about the cost Of gas. Council
took it land let me say contiEu the Gov
ernor. ''as l have frequently said. that the city
Council than the present one. 1t sent commit
tee to the cities where natural gas is used.
That committee came back and said what
ought to be the maximum price. AT that time
three four local companies were max
ing independents investigation. They as
sisted in framing the present ordinance
under which they claimed any company would
make profit. After while some one suggested
that the people could do this well as a corpor-
alton of the few. Good conservative people
doubted that it could be done, and some news
paper, do not know which one. said, WHAT
gas by . town meetinep' The ex Governor then
spoke of the spontaneity with which the people
subscribed They rushed to those who had the
subscription papers. He followed this by laud
ing the people of Indianapolis, the plain people,
who. he said, will make up this 100000 by
drawing money from a bank that never fails.
Referring to the acceptance of the ordinance by
the trust he remarked, ''It means acceptance
of the schedule price, and all other provisions of
the ordinance from top to bottom"
John M. Butler, the next speaker, said it
seemed to him that the people of Indianapolis
had every reason to congratulate themselves
the success OF the enterprise so far. But there
were three special reasons for this. Il was
enterprise by the people for the people and
the peoples interest. 1t guarantees cheap
trust. but by all other companies 1t
has already consumed the probability of the
ordinance prices being increased. The
third is that it is advertising indianapolis
as other movement He had heard
people say that indianapolis was fenced in but
let this Trust Company succeed. as it has every
down. The trust is firm foundation, be-
cause it is supplied by the people. A corpora
tion of 4, 700 subscribers means something, but
there is danger IN resting on a partial success.
The company yes nesds manythiugs to help it
on. and one is prompt payment of assessments.
In his opinion ir is a solid trust. for il IS
signed, helped to create The contract is one
of valuable consideration. for. between the
company and the subscriber, the former agrees
to pay back TO the latter his entire subscription.
either in money or gas, with per cent. interest.
There is another value aud that Is soon
the cost OF the plant is met and sufficient Is
had to pay the per cent, gas can be had at
cost, and it will be furnished at that rate so
long it flows. II the trust was not legal
the law against it woud have been
suggesting a doubt has been scrutnized and
circulated by its friends the enemy. It is not
opposed to public policy, as the contract is the
most direct in aid of public policy he ever saw.
Public policy is always opposed to monopoly
and in the contract entered into by the company
of monopoly. It will be long time before any
court in Marion county holds such contract
bad
Judge Lamb briefly referred to the many
phases of the natural gas agitation, and then
coming to the origin OF the trust, said
Alfred A Potts was the first gentleman to sug-
gest the idea to him. He was ready to JOIN IN
erecting a monument to him if he is the man
who conceived the plan 1t was on the sd or
November, Judge Lamb said, that the canvass
for subscriptions began On the sixteenth DAY
had been suggested by the friend the enemy
that the trust would not raise the money. when
the subscription was secured il was then gas
territory that could not be had, anu with
that the suggestion circulated that no
pipe could be procured. II think.
ne continued. that within few days we can
satisfy you that both gas and pipe can be OBJ
tanned if we have the money to pay for it. That
think we will get for it has been only three or
four days since the first assessment was called
for and within that time one-quarter of the
100000 mas been paid m and not has
heen called upon to meet this portion of his sub
ecription The other morning q crowd of labor
ing men were waiting as early as o'clock for
the office OF the comrapy open. It is the
money in this first assessment that is needed to
secure the lands and buy the pi5e" He entertained
no unkindly feeling against any other persons or
companies that proposed 20 bring gas the city.
May they 1--we long and prosper; but between
the few and the los, 900 people of Indianapolis
ne WAS for the latter. Ii any other com pany can
furnish gas cheaper than the trnst, God speed
h but the trust would supply gas at cost Be-